Perspective

Pausing on this Thanksgiving Weekend, I fell into some deep thought.

How grateful I am to be alive. 
Now, in the 21st Century.
Here, in America.
To be educated.
To be able to be independent.
To be healthy.
To be strong-willed and stubborn.
To be a provider.
To be quirky.
To be intelligent.
To be sarcastic.
To be myself.

I have watched countless documentaries, videos, History Channel specials, movies to remind myself of the horrors that humans can place on each other. 

What destruction Mother Nature can commit.
What illness and disease can do to a population.
What emotional turmoil can be created by one person's words.
What constant verbal abuse can do to a child.

Not that these things don't happen here, today, in our society - but I am thankful that we have some safeties in place to prevent and protect when they do.

Thank you America for my freedoms - for being a person, a woman, a parent, a teacher, and an independent thinker.  I appreciate those who came before me to pave the way for me to be me.

Now, how will I pave the way for the next generation...

Blessings

My life is full of blessings, and I wish that those blessings would compensate for the stresses.
I'm going to work on documenting those blessings in these posts.

• I'm blessed with two enthusiastic and creative boys.  Even when one prefers to be holed up in his room designing a new CosPlay outfit and the other can quote the Disney Channel at the drop of a hat.  One of these days they won't want to snuggle with their mom... and they'll grow up, but I want them to always know how much they mean to me!
• I'm blessed with a boyfriend who is doing his best to provide for our family.  A little axe welding in the side yard has resulted in several cords of wood ready for the newly installed wood stove this winter.
• I'm blessed with parents who support me in all of my endeavors - including setting up and tearing down my craft booth this weekend and letting my kiddos hang out at 'the farm' rather than sit with me.
• I'm blessed with the ability to explain difficult math concepts to reluctant students.  Even when they don't want to listen... at all!
• I'm blessed with colleagues who give of themselves more than they get.  And often don't know how much they are appreciated.
• I'm blessed with a roof over my head that provides me a safe haven.  
• I'm blessed with good health - and should remind myself of that every day!

Yes, I'm blessed with many things - and need to focus on those to help get through those tough times.